Christian convert hacked to death in Bangladesh

Christian convert hacked to death in Bangladesh

&nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspIndiatimes, Representative Image

DHAKA: A 68-year-old Christian convert was hacked to death in Bangladesh today by three motorbike-borne unidentified assailants, the latest in a slew of attacks on minorities by Islamists in the Muslim majority country.

Hossain Ali, a freedom fighter and former inspector of family planning, was killed by unidentified miscreants in the northern Bangladeshi town of Kurigram this morning.

Ali's body was recovered with his throat slit, police said. He was attacked by three unknown miscreants. The miscreants riding a motorbike attacked Ali at about 7:00 AM, the Superintendent of Police in Kurigram said.

The attackers fled the spot after exploding two Molotov Cocktails, the official said. Ali converted to Christianity ten years ago, the SP was quoted as saying by the Daily Star.

There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh over the past six months specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers and foreigners that have killed at least nine persons including two foreigners and wounded more than 100.

Last week a top Shia preacher and homoeopathic doctor was stabbed to death in southwestern Bangladesh in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

A Hindu head priest was hacked to death on February 21 by gun-and-cleaver wielding Islamists at a temple in northern Panchagarh district's Debiganj Upazila.

In September last year, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was murdered by unidentified assailants in Dhaka, and within five days of that incident Japanese farmer Kunio Hoshi was killed. Both attacks were claimed by IS-affiliated militants.

The IS has claimed a series of attacks against religious minorities in the Sunni-majority Bangladesh, which was declared officially secular after a deadly liberation struggle against Pakistan in 1971.

Check the latest facts on Covid-19 here. Times Fact ‘India Outbreak Report’ by TIMES NETWORK and Protiviti is a comprehensive analysis that highlights the impact of the pandemic in India and projects the possible number of active cases in the weeks ahead.